From: "Michael Burns" <michael AT fingerlakespermaculture.org>
To: fingerlakespermaculture AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Farm Business Planning Online Course with Cornell Small Farms Program, Fall 2012
Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2012 12:07:36 -0400
For immediate release: Sept. 4, 2012
Contact: Erica Frenay, <ejf5 AT cornell.edu> 607-255-9911
Get Help Writing Your Farm Business Plan this Fall
It is rare for a farm to be an accidental success; having a written document
laying out the farm's goals, marketing strategies, financial projections, and
operation is essential to demonstrate the feasibility of the farmer's plans. A
business plan is also a must-have for anyone seeking loans or grants to help
fund their farm's development.
This Fall, you can get personal guidance in writing your farm business plan by
taking an online course offered by the Cornell Small Farms Program.
Through weekly webinars, you'll hear from farmers, business management
educators, and bankers about what makes a good business plan. You'll get
personal feedback on each section of your business plan as you complete the
weekly homework. The course begins Thurs. Oct 4 and runs for 6 weeks through
Nov. 8, with evening webinars every Thursday. The cost is $200. Registration
closes when the course fills up or by Sept 26, whichever happens first, so
don't delay or you might miss this opportunity.
Students who took the course last Fall have used their completed business
plans to obtain farm mortgages, equipment purchase loans, and operating loans.
One student said, "I basically knew very little prior to taking this course.
But now I feel confident about how to write a business plan, how to research
the areas that are projections/pro-forma statements, and the components of
each section."
This course is only one of many offered over the Fall, Winter and Spring by
the Cornell Small Farms Program and Cornell Cooperative Extension. For the
full course menu, visit http://nebeginningfarmers.org/online-courses.